Students without clothing

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Specializes in school nursing.

I have worked at three schools in the past 13 years & have always been told school nurses are not to see students without their clothing unless their is a Drs order for a cath, Diastat admin, etc. However, I have been asked to clean up students who have had accidents at my current location. I am on my own here, there is no "lead" nurse, so I really have nobody to get clarification from. I assumed if I have been told not to do it as my previous employment, it is the rule for our state. I attempted to contact my school nursing association for my state (Georgia), but as I cannot afford the membership, I was not able to get into the site. Does anyone have any knowledge that may be of help? I don't want to anger my current boss, but I want to make sure I am following the state law.

Thanks in advance :)

I do not clean up students. They are old enough to clean themselves. If it is a special needs child who needs help cleaning themselves up then a para will do this. If there is still an issue you can bring up the topic of if you were a male nurse would it be okay to clean up a female student. Cleaning up students is not a medical issue.

Specializes in school nursing.

I agree, and have never been asked to do this anywhere else. The teachers always look at me like I'm crazy when I say, "That's not a medical issue"! They are short staffed on paras today, so I was asked to do it. I did stay and "witness", however I was out of direct site of the student.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

My school has PK thru 5. The PK teachers/aides will clean up and change their kids. I don't change kid's clothing. In cases where they have peed I have them change themselves if they have extra clothing in their backpack/locker. If they don't have extra clothing I call a parent to bring them some. If there is a poop accident, regardless, I call a parent to come change them and instruct the parent to take them home if it's a diarrhea accident; otherwise they can return to class. I will, however, help with tieing shoe laces because that's how generous of a nurse I am. :sarcastic:

The only time I look under clothing is if I think there is some emergent medical reason to do so.

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Unless we're talking about potential trauma needing to be assessed, I am not undressing a child unless it's one of the reasons the OP stated (Diastat, cath, etc) Now, accidents do happen ad for the most part the children are equipped to clean themselves up, but on the rare occasions that they need help and they need my help i am getting another adult in my office to act as a witness. Nurse Flare does not need to be the subject of the 5 o'clock news unless it involves me winning a huge mega millions jackpot :D

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

In special needs schools paras are trained in ADL assistance including toileting. Unless a private duty nursing student. Public schools are getting the message regarding hiring a $9-10/hr paraprofessional for ADL & toileting assistance as opposed to overburdening the nurse. The nurse will be called if there is an unusual finding to witness & document. Fortunately rarely occurs (bruises or welts clearly in the shape of a hand, unusual marks or injuries, raging weeping rash so parent can be advised to take child to physician. Questionable bed bug or scabies infestations (but rarely is it limited to the area covered by a properly sized bathing suit)

What exactly are you being asked to look at on an unclothed student?

I've seen swimmers & wrestlers just in trunks sent to the MS & HS nurses to get an opinion for possible ringworm, impetigo, CMRSA rash as all are will exclude an athlete from participating)

If you want guidance from within your state. I would contact your State School Nurse Consultant.

I would never undress a student unless it was an emergent situation.

Specializes in kids.
Nurse Flare does not need to be the subject of the 5 o'clock news unless it involves me winning a huge mega millions jackpot :D

But when you win, you WILL remember us, right??? :roflmao:

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

of course - i'll send for all of you to come and visit me on my private island!

Specializes in School Nursing.

I have a student with Spina Bifida that Caths herself, but has a hard time wiping if she has an BM. It is in her order for assisstance with toileting and there is no Aide assigned to her, I am it! The school figures if they hired an LVN why not use me instead of hiring an 1 on 1 aide. So I am running the health office, helping out said student 2x or more a day with cath, and toileting and 2 diabetic students, and a cerebral palsy student who needs assistance with going to the restroom no wiping, just help pulling her pants up, and help with her monthly period (pads). It gets very exhausting, but the school is small, (700+) kids or so. :angrybird9:

Specializes in school nursing.
In special needs schools paras are trained in ADL assistance including toileting. Unless a private duty nursing student. Public schools are getting the message regarding hiring a $9-10/hr paraprofessional for ADL & toileting assistance as opposed to overburdening the nurse. The nurse will be called if there is an unusual finding to witness & document. Fortunately rarely occurs (bruises or welts clearly in the shape of a hand, unusual marks or injuries, raging weeping rash so parent can be advised to take child to physician. Questionable bed bug or scabies infestations (but rarely is it limited to the area covered by a properly sized bathing suit)

What exactly are you being asked to look at on an unclothed student?

I've seen swimmers & wrestlers just in trunks sent to the MS & HS nurses to get an opinion for possible ringworm, impetigo, CMRSA rash as all are will exclude an athlete from participating)

I'm just being asked to clean up students who have had accidents, something I've never had to do anywhere else, and was actually told specifically NOT to do.

Specializes in school nursing.
If you want guidance from within your state. I would contact your State School Nurse Consultant.

I would never undress a student unless it was an emergent situation.

I actually tried to contact them, but because I am no longer a member of the association (school nurses in my area are not paid well at all), I was unable to e-mail them :(

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